Here’s a wise short message on “comparison” through a member of the Christ-Life Family. The Lord spoke to her, saying:
“Comparison is a culprit that hinders love. My body is comparing it’s parts to all except for the head. Is the arm greater than the head, the mind which causes the arms movement? Is the leg greater than the head, the mind which chooses to strengthen it and give it the ability to stand? Stop comparing yourself to your brothers and sisters, to your friends and families. Compare yourself always to Me, for I am the One you are to become like. Compare yourself to Me and you will remain humble. Everything comes down to fixation upon Me. How can you love Me if your eyes are upon yourself and others due to comparison? Comparison removes your eyes from Me causing the flame of love to die out. Comparison must be burned out of the heart of My bride.”
Note: Inferiority is false humility resulting in SELF-pity. Even this goes straight back to the root of pride. The truth is that comparison rooted in inferiority and comparison rooted in pride are equally harmful. The former leads to idolization of others and the latter leads to idolization of self. Both build idols in place of the Most High.
I feel that the Lord prompted me to look up information concerning grape vines, branch growth, pruning etc. When you look at branches you’ll see that some are longer than others while some are shorter, some are thicker than others while some are thinner, some have many leaves and some have few, and some contain more fruit than others. No two branches are the same. No branch is meant to look exactly like the next, they are only meant to remain connected to their life source, the vine.
So many of God’s branches have begun comparing themselves to the others resulting in their overextension.
When it comes to cultivating literal grapes, if the overextended branches are not pruned, they die.
The purpose of this word is to open the people of God up to being pruned. We, as God’s people, at large, have taken our eyes off of the Vine and entered into a pursuit of attaining what other branches have. We must repent and allow Him to cut away every act and motive of selfish ambition and vanity. We must return to the place of abiding in the Vine.
Note: Comparison is the death of contentment.
And godliness with contentment is great gain.
Let us pursue godliness with contentment and gratefulness, and gain much.
Power Truth:
“But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (James 3: 14-17).